The Crosshair IV Formula deploys the latest chipset architecture from AMD. ROG Connect, a built-in overclocking engine, maximizes benchmark scores by tuning and monitoring from a remote PC via USB, like a notebook. This way users can overclock while benchmarking, so all resources remain available to better performance. ROG Connect also serves as a monitoring tool?gearheads can obtain readings to see the effects mods such as overvolting have on their system.

ASUS and Republic of Gamers also announced Core Unlocker. It's well known many CPUs come with multiple cores deactivated during fabrication, and Core Unlocker brings those back to life. Users simply have to press one button on the board and the AMD CPU placed in the socket goes through a physical scan in search of dormant cores. Dual core CPUs can become triple or quad in minutes, with obvious computing horsepower benefits.

The Crosshair IV Formula also comes with the latest version of Turbo Key II. Turbo Key II runs extensive overclocking automatically, detecting hardware tolerances and testing them to ensure stability. Users need to do is press the O.C button on the board and let the technology take it from there.

Multiplayer has become the norm, and gamers demand smooth connections to deliver uninterrupted action. The reality, however, is that many still don't enjoy optimized broadband, which is why ASUS has conjured GameFirst. This smart solution works with the board's networking pipeline to prioritize bandwidth, eliminate lag and lower latency.

Storage comes in the form of six SATA 6GB/s and three SATA 3GB/s. Also, the Crosshair IV Formula includes two USB 3.0 ports, which are much faster than USB 2.0 in every way. There's also HD audio from integrated SupremeFX X-Fi, fully EAX 4.0 compliant.